The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-12-30
A DIRECT RAILROAD CHASE.


refreshed from its rest, sped en- again.
We had been careful to so obstruct the
track that the enemy was obliged 10 come
to q full halt, and thus give us time to
once more get out of sight.
We passed Tilton in safety, and the
water station, which at that time was at
II different place from the wood yard was
soon reached. Our supply of this neces-
sity was low, and without it our progress
would be at once arrested. We stopped,
adjusted the pipes, told the powder story
although from the battered appearance
: Of our only car, with hole knocked in
each end, that story was no longer plaus-
IDLE, but it answered for tho moment and
we succeeded in getting all the water we
needed. Had any objection been made
we would have taken it by force, and the
assurance with which we went TO work
aided in securing confidence. Before the
tank was full the pursuers camc in sight,
but seeing us they ran slowly, and as u
party of our men had run back and put
some distractions on the track, out Of gun
shot, they were obliged to come to n full
stop there, thus giving us the time needed.
Then wo mounted and sped on toward
Dalton.
1t was advisable at once to get deci-
siyely ahead Of the pursuers before reach
ing this town, which might present seri-
Gus difficulties. AS there were no bridges
to burn now for a considerable distance,
the only other thing was to try once moro
to tear up Tho track. The engine was
again in good running condition, and we
rushed rapidly forward, putting frequent
Instructions on the track-mostly by drop
ping ties or sticks of flrewood, but in one
or two instances by reversing the engine,
jumping out and piling up distractions.
At favorable place we stopped again for
q more permanent break.
Long practice had made us skillful in
this matter, and the last two stops had
shown us that the enemy could not run
upon us without great care. So we
divided at once into four parties. Scott
and q companion cut the telegraph;
Knight carefully inspected tho engine;
two or three ran bacl. just out of gun
shot, and heaped distractions On the
track, while the remainder wor! | with
might and main in taking up Il rail. 1t
was hero that little occurrence took
place that has been much misrepresented.
A southern account, widely copied,
says that Andrews men almost mutinied
against him at this place. The facts
are these: The writer and the men in tho
box car had come to feel that there was
no need of running so long before the pur-
suing train, which we could see to be q
short one, with probably not much II any
greater force than our own. Now while
as many were at the rail as could find
places to work-the process of lifting it
with our imperfect tools was very slow,
requiring more than five minutes-I said
to Andrews: eve can capture that tram,
if you arc willing"
''How3'' he asked. / answered:
'Find good place on q curve where
there are plenty of bushes" tbs the road
had uumberless curves, and ran mostly
through woods, this was easy; "then let
rs put on some distractions and hide; one
of our engineers can run ahead mile or
two and como back after us: when the
enemy stop to clear the track we will rush
on them, and when we have captured
them our other engineer can reverse their
engine and send it in hurry down the
track tn clear the road of any more trains
that may be following"
Andrews said, in his quiet way, at is n
good plan. 1t is worth trying" and
looked around in a meditative manner as
If weighing the chances. Then the
enemy's whistle sounded, we saw them
rush up to the distractions we had placed
on the track, stop by reversing, and labor |
as frantically to clear the road as we were
doing in trying to raise the rail.
But our efforts were in vain. The |
stubborn spikes still held, and as they |
were ready to move on again, Andrews |
called out, 'All aboard and we dashed |
away. That was not the place to make q |
fight as we all knew, for reyolyers against |
shotguns and rifles would have had no |
chance at long ranges; but from an am
bush we could have been climbing into |
their engine and cars before they could |
pick up their guns, and the conflict would |
not have been many minutes doubtful. |
This was the nearest we came to what O |
southern account called ''open mutiny''-
q mere respectful suggestion in the line Of |
our work. No officer was ever more |
heartily obeyed than was Andrews during
the whole of this day, and none of us said |
anything more about this plan for the
time, partly because we felt that our
leader was better able to judge what was
TO be done than we, AMI partly also, l
must confess, because we thought he was
only waiting for the best place to turn ON
our foes, and that we would soon have |
all the fighting we wanted.
The full speed of our engine was again
called into requisition as-we neared Dali
ton, and by the aid of few ties dropped
on the track we were once more q respect
able distance ahead. We needed this
interval badly, for H. was by no means
certain that the switches at this point
would be properly adjusted for our inn
mediate passage through; and il not, Sc
rious difficulty might arise. We might
have battle with forces in front as well
rs in the rear, for Dalton was the largest
town we had reached since leaving
Marietta. Here road dverged to Cleve-
land in Tennessee, where it connects with
the main line from Richmond to Chatta-
aooga, thus making a large triangle, or, as
q railroad man would say great Y. At
hat time no telegraph wires were on this
cross road; they were not put up. till 1877.
There were also numerous. side tracks,
and a probability thaecars might be left
standing on some OF them; and as we had
more than made up our hours delay at
and were now much ahead of
lime, there was no certainty of the road
being rightly adjusted for us. IL was
therefore necessary TO stop at the open
ng OF the switch, which was fortunately